“We shouldn’t judge, because everybody’s their own person. I feel, as an Italian-American, I understand their ways,” Sammi says. “People are what they are.”

Jersey Shore has stirred up contempt from Italian-American groups who detest the way they say they are being stereotyped on the show. Several sponsors, including Domino’s Pizza, have bailed. But viewers don’t care. Ratings have almost doubled in just the first few episodes.

Jersey Shore is a twist of MTV’s Real World with a bit of Bravo’s Real Housewives thrown in for good measure.